Tokyo, Dec. 6, there would be no use in Japan Information which it is claimed: stating a definite number of ships, is authoritative and from authentic but, since you insist, I shall ask Sources, has been received here re-my home Government for further ative to the conversation between 'Mr. Ramsay MacDonald and' Mr.
Tokyo's Instructions Matsudaira, the Japanese Ambassa-'The above statement was made dor to London, in connection with by Mr. Matsudaira during the forthcoming naval conference second interview he had with Mr. London. Japan's stand, as is well MacDonald after the Premier's Known, is that she should have a turn from the United States. 10-7 ratio in regard to auxiliary In the meantime, the Japanese men-of-war, especially in that entegnava} authorities here took up the ory of cruisers. mounting 8-inch matter of the latest British propo-guns. Thus far, both Great sal and instructed Mr. Matsudaira Britain and the" United States inform Mr. MacDonald that have objected to this cruiser ratio, Japan needed 126,000 tons of and, finally, it is reported Mr. cruisers if, as is more or less ar-'MacDonald agreed to let Japan have ranged, the United States is to have 10 per cent. of the big cruiser 38 ten-thousand ton vessels of this Strength of Great Britain, but reclass, or 180,000 tons of cruisers fused to consider a claim for 70 ing eight-inch guns, This er cent, of the big cruiser strength. out at 70 per cent. of the Of America, The distinction an cruiser strength, Mr. important, for, under the tentative Matsudaira had another interview agreement reached by Mr. Mac-with Mr. MacDonald last week and Donald with the American an. then presented this demand. thorities during his visit to Wash-Japan's present strength in the ington, the United States is to have: cruiser class is set down as follows: three more of the bigger cruisers: by the vernacular press:—Vessels than will be allotted' to Great of the Nachi class (10,000 tons) Britain, eight; Total tonnage, 80,000, Ves This apparently was not satistacsels of the Furutaka class (7,100, tory to the Japanese naval authori-tons)—four; total tonnage 28,400. ties and Mr, Matsudaira was urged This will bring the to lay before Mr. Macdonald' that, {in the opinion of those responsible ince Japan for the defence of this country, a 126,000 tons of cruisers, there is Gruiser ratio of 70 per cent. of the another 17,600 tons to be' accounted American cruiser tonnage was ab-for. Proposes to build' with Solutely indispensable. Tt was fur-this tonnage two more eight-inch ther pointed out that Japan was not fun vessels—the tonnage has not yet been definitely decided on. That Breatly interested in her ratio vis will give Japan 14 cruisers mount-'-via Great Britain, but that, asa ing 8-i against 18, for maritime nation abutting on the Pacific, she felt that she must hays States. This will exceed the 70 per cent. vis-a-vis the proper proportion of the American United States in so far as the num-cruiser strength and that this: pro-Portion ig, in the opinion of hee ber of vessels armed with eight-inch experts, not less than 70 per cent. guns is concerned, but it is pointed of the' cruiser strength of the out here that, in respect of tonnage United States, "Mr, Matsudaira and the number of guns, the 10-7 Guly presented this suggestion " to ratio will be maintained, as the Mr. MacDonald, who, in reply, asked Japanese vessels will have 116 eight-that Japan would make an explicit inch guns against 164 of the United States. Japan thus, if request as to the number or tonnage of the larger cruisers. she wanted, her point, will have to build a instead of adhering to a ratio ton-further two vessels mounting eight-age. Tt is also stated. that Mr. ich guns, something that is expan-MacDonald called Mr. Matsudaira's rather than limitation. Japan attention to the possibility that, if alized this and, through Mr. Japan remained adamant on' this Matsudaira, has suggested that the: Point, her attitude might tend United States and Great Britain Dlock' the smooth working of the shall lower the total tonnage for Preliminary negotiations and thi obviate this new bu in turn, would have a very undesitable effect on the progress of the work, of the Five-Power Naval Conference, here is that the total tonnage for Japan's Prankness 'Mr. MacDonald's talk with My. reduced, as the figures agreed upon Matsudaira on this subject, though by Mr.' MacDonald and President very friendly and not justifying any.
Hoover represent the minimum needs cause for pessimism, was, it is re-of the British Empire and of the ported, none the less frank and to United States, while it is also rethe point. The British Premier garded as extremely doubtful who sisted that Japan should declare ther Mfr. MacDonald will agree to Plainly the number of bigger eruis-Tet Japan have 14 cruisers mounting eight-inch guns, as this would mean ers she would like to have as Against 15 for Great Britain and that Japan would have a big-cruiser 16 for the United States, To thi strength of over 93 per cent. of Mr. Matsudaira, according to the that of Great Britain, since Britain vernacular press, replied is to have only 15 such cruisers, against 18 for the United States.
"In order to prevent a disagree-'Thus, it may be seen that the fixing ment such a8 wrecked the Geneva fof the ratios is no easy task, but Tri-Partite Conference, Anglo-is a veritable mathematical puzzle. American parity was agreed upon If Japan gets 70 per cent. of the before other considerations were American cruiser tonnage, her ratio taken up. Japan similarly thinks vie-d-vis Great Britain soars to that, for her, the main question to over 93 per cent. and the 10-7-7. be fixed is that she shall have a basic ratio fails completely, If Tatio of 70 per cent. of the strongest Japan gets 70 per cent. of the of the naval Powers. Your Ex-British cruiser tonnage, then her cellency and Mr. Dawes first agreed ratio via-d-vis the United States is on parity and then proceeded to fix 55 per cent, something that will the number of vessels, their respect-place Japan' below even the 5-5-8 ive categories, and so forth. Our ratio obtaining for capital ships contention is not dissimilar. We to-day. regard 70 per cent, of the strength Mr. Wakatsuki, Japan's chief of the United States as the ratio delegate to the London conference, absolutely needed for Japan's deand Admiral Takarabé will be in fence, and it would be meaningless Washington on December 16, when for Jabin to state the number of they will meet President Hoover cruisers she wants, without touching and will explain that Japan feels on the basic principle of this 70 that she must have 70 per cent. of per cent. Japan can state her America's big-cruiser strength. The needs as regards the number of Papers emphasize that it is one of cruisers she must have on the basi My. Wakatsuki's main tasks to of the figures agreed upon tenta-"relieve the minds of Ameciean tively by the Unite States" and officials", but, even if the minds Great Britain, but if must be borne of American officials be relieved, in mind that the Anglo-American there remains the fact that, should agreement ly.. experimental. J jan have 70 per cent, of lAmer-he "AngloiAmerican figures are ica's. strength, this would be tanta-Hable to alteration and, therefore, mount to over 90 per cent. of that
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.